Estonian pub refuses to serve Russian-speaking guests

[Dark-Angel25]

MOSCOW, April 23 (RIA Novosti) - The Lost Continent, a pub in the Estonian capital of Tallinn, is refusing to serve clients who do not speak Estonian or English, Estonia's Postimees newspaper said on Thursday. The bar's owner, Andre Matsovi, said the notice saying only Estonian- and English-speaking clients would be served in the pub appeared on the entrance after a group of Russian-speaking young people swore at a waitress, who did not understand Russian, and set fire to the men's restroom last Saturday.
The incident is being investigated by police.
Ethnic Russians account for about 30% of Estonia's 1.34 million population. Because of the Estonian-language element of the citizenship test, many have "non-citizen" status, which denies them a national passport and prevents them from voting.
International human rights organizations and the UN have repeatedly called on Estonia to make Russian its second official language, but successive governments have not changed the policy

[kosse]

Well, they certainly have no obligation to provide service in any other language than Estonian. This is essentially non-news.

[Switek]

Here we go. We can expect another Russia - Baltics mess here. NOT THE SAME **** AGAIN!!!

It must be sensitive point for Russian regime if such trivial event is broadly published. Damn!!! During last Israeli intervention in Gaza Strip some Israelis were not allowed to eneter some cafes and restaurants. There are sometimes private owners who are morons an have their racist attitude. So what? The same examples of discrimination we can find in every country but does it always make international issue?

Close this thread please.

[Dark-Angel25]

It must be sensitive point for Russian regime if such trivial event is broadly published.The same examples of discrimination we can find in every country but does it always make international issue?

Can't you read or what?

The Lost Continent, a pub in the Estonian capital of Tallinn, is refusing to serve clients who do not speak Estonian or English, Estonia's Postimees newspaper said on Thursday

Close this thread please.
You don't have to post your reaction here.

[Switek]

Can't you read or what?


You don't have to post your reaction here.


Yes I can. But have no clue why you started another ponetntial flame war thread.

Do you know, for example, that that the most anti British city in Poland is Cracow (Kraków) where Btitons are not allowed to enter into many pubs, restaurants and hotels... and so? Is there any whining anti Polish thread about this?

Every day in country [...put whatever name...] in some cafe, pub, restaurant members of nation/ethnic group [...put whatever name...] are not allowed to go in couse of [...put whatever reason...].

SO WHAT?

[kalkun]

Yes I can. But have no clue why you started another ponetntial flame war thread.

Agreed, these kind of posters annoy the most, they make a sensitive thread and then mostly run away from it.:roll:

[Basillicus]

Well, sounds a bit strange. If they don't have people who can speak Russian working there then I guess it's only natural not to serve orders that aren't understood. On the other hand it sounds pretty stupid to make a rule not to serve even if they have some Russian speaking employees, just because some Russian speaking knobheads trashed the place.

[joka]

It must be sensitive point for Russian regime if such trivial event is broadly published.


MOSCOW, April 23 (RIA Novosti)


Estonia's Postimees newspaper said on Thursday.


Can't you read or what?


Can't you read or what? p-)

[Dercius]

It only proves that the owners of the club are a bunch of retards. Do they know anything about customer service?, marketing?, etc... They dont want money if it comes from Russian customers??:bash: Seriously.....:cantbeli:

[ren0312]

Was there not some restaurant in Philadelphia that refused to take orders in Spanish?

[void]

Sounds like from that article that this pub is putting English above Russian in terms of status, which is strange in a country with 30% Russian population.
This is equivalent to Quebec pubs say not serving English speakers, or a Hong Kong pub not serving Mandarin speakers, only Cantonese...

[ilmakas]

The original news is here http://uudised.err.ee/index.php?06162342 what it says is that none of the waiters or bartenders speak russian so they offer no service in russian. Russians who can understand estonian or english are welcome. Same thing in russian speaking areas where all of the staff are russophone you have to know russian or english. Basically a very minor local news and somehow it ends up here. Makes you wonder.

[Lazarou]

The pub also refused to serve in Swahili, Inuit and Klingon.

Outrageous. Kl´taqh!

[omghihi]

Sounds like from that article that this pub is putting English above Russian in terms of status, which is strange in a country with 30% Russian population.
This is equivalent to Quebec pubs say not serving English speakers, or a Hong Kong pub not serving Mandarin speakers, only Cantonese...

I would compare it to some quebecois showing up in USA and demanding service in french.

the employers might have put english second because the employees (young people) most likely don't speak russian, since it no longer is compulsory in schools. english has taken over.

I can only say 'pozhaluista bez seksa' in russian, might come handy someday. : )))

[kalkun]

On the other hand it sounds pretty stupid to make a rule not to serve even if they have some Russian speaking employees, just because some Russian speaking knobheads trashed the place.

Obviously RIA Novosti left out the part where owner said he had no Russian speaking employees and that they may reconsider the text on the notification.

[void]

Maybe if French was spoken as the first language by 30% of the US population it would be the same...
But yes, I agree, it is a storm in a teacup.

[omghihi]

Maybe if French was spoken as the first language by 30% of the US population it would be the same...
But yes, I agree, it is a storm in a teacup.

I was for a moment trying to come up with a suitable canadian city for this analogy, a city where they wouldn't even think of speaking french, only english, and a quebecois showing up there. but I don't know enough about Canada in order to draw such analogies. are there even such cities? so I opted for their obvious southern neighbour.

*shrugs*

[-Fighter-]

Racism. Pure and simple.

[Dark-Angel25]

Yes I can. But have no clue why you started another ponetntial flame war thread.
What flame thread? I didn't see any flame here.Btw why do you have to jump on every Russian thread?


Do you know, for example, that that the most anti British city in Poland is Cracow (Kraków) where Btitons are not allowed to enter into many pubs, restaurants and hotels... and so? Is there any whining anti Polish thread about this?
Then Britons have no business going to such a place(if it really exists,which i highly doubt).

[kalkun]

Racism. Pure and simple.

Epic conclusion :lol:

[-Fighter-]

Epic conclusion :lol:

Try to laugh it off all you want but it's the simple truth.

[kalkun]

Try to laugh it off all you want but it's the simple truth.

Educate me on racism definition.

[-Fighter-]

Educate me on racism definition.

I am not going to play this idiotic game with you. It's Racism. Period.

[ilmakas]

Racism. Pure and simple.

so when I go to a bar with all russian staff who cant speak estonian and therefore cant serve me in estonian - thats racism right?

[Abrahamsen]

I am not going to play this idiotic game with you. It's Racism. Period.

It's not, comma.

[-Fighter-]

so when I go to a bar with all russian staff who cant speak estonian and therefore cant serve me in estonian - thats racism right?

Learn to read better. Your example is completely different.

[kosse]

Looks like Putler Jugend has found this thread. I'll get some popcorn :)

[Insane Tadpole]

Learn to read better. Your example is completely different.
He asked you a question. Arn't you going to answer it?

[-Fighter-]

He asked you a question. Arn't you going to answer it?

If the employees of a Russian bar can't serve you in Estonian because they don't speak it, no, it's nor racist. I would think I would not have to chew these things and spoonfeed them to you or him, that you would understand that from the fact that his example is simply not the same.

Now I'll ask you: How is it the same as what the article says? What's so hard to understand in that his point has barely any relevance?

[ilmakas]

Now I'll ask you: How is it the same as what the article says? What's so hard to understand in that his point has barely any relevance?

russians are welcome in that pub, but its staff cant speak russian so they serve them in either estonian or in english. So how is it racism that a bar doesn't have russophone staff?

[Insane Tadpole]

If the employees of a Russian bar can't serve you in Estonian because they don't speak it, no, it's nor racist. I would think I would not have to chew these things and spoonfeed them to you or him, that you would understand that from the fact that his example is simply not the same.

Now I'll ask you: How is it the same as what the article says? What's so hard to understand in that his point has barely any relevance?
Relevance is that he has reversused the situation from a estanian pub to a Russian one, to see if its racist.
Just a quick question, is it racist if people don't get served because they don't speak either English or Estonian? What would you do when non speaking english/estonian people came into your pub who are acting in a socially unacceptable way and lighting the restrooms on fire...? You would try to prevent such acts happen again, right?

[TwoFistedFlava]

Man, I gotta say I love how Estonia is always snubbing the Russians in one way or another. Such a tiny country that was dominated for so long by the Soviets, they are now getting a little payback. I don't really have anything against Russia, but I just find the situation entertaining.

[-Fighter-]

russians are welcome in that pub, but its staff cant speak russian so they serve them in either estonian or in english. So how is it racism that a bar doesn't have russophone staff?

If that's true then I'm wrong it's just not what the article on the front page says.



The original news is here http://uudised.err.ee/index.php?06162342 what it says is that none of the waiters or bartenders speak russian so they offer no service in russian. Russians who can understand estonian or english are welcome. Same thing in russian speaking areas where all of the staff are russophone you have to know russian or english. Basically a very minor local news and somehow it ends up here. Makes you wonder.

^Ok. If this is true then I'm wrong. Still seems suspect. I've been to a lot of places and no where do they require you to speak their language or they wont serve you. It's really not that hard to communicate in a bar. Basically sounds like if you are Russian who only speaks Russian you are not welcome because we wont bother to communicate with you.

But I digress. This is too little information to go buy.


Relevance is that he has reversused the situation from a estanian pub to a Russian one, to see if its racist.
Just a quick question, is it racist if people don't get served because they don't speak either English or Estonian? What would you do when non speaking english/estonian people came into your pub who are acting in a socially unacceptable way and lighting the restrooms on fire...? You would try to prevent such acts happen again, right?

The difference is his example says they can't serve you in the language of your choosing. The article suggest they wont serve you at all unless you speak their language.

But like I said I digress. If this is just a warning that their stuff doesn't speak Russian, no problem. But if they refuse to communicate with you, it's at least suspect. Ordering beer is not rocket science.

[kalkun]

Man, I gotta say I love how Estonia is always snubbing the Russians in one way or another. Such a tiny country that was dominated for so long by the Soviets, they are now getting a little payback. I don't really have anything against Russia, but I just find the situation entertaining.

I find it to be the other way, RIA Novosti tried to bash on the Estonia again.
+I don't find the situation entertaining at all.

[TwoFistedFlava]

No your right Kalkun, the Russian papers do just as much bashing as any Estonian source. Personally, I just want to see Estonia's great history and identity maintained, I think it's ok for Russian people to live in Estonia, but I don't want to see Russian culture forced onto Estonia. If Estonia lets Russian become an official language for instance, I think the country will lose some of it's unique identity.